Introduced with the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010, the bill: establishes the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement (by renaming and extending the functions of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission); provides for the powers, proceedings and functions of the committee; and gives the committee responsibility for oversighting the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Crime Commission.

to: provide that representative Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander bodies and certain native title claimants may comment or request to be consulted about proposed housing and other services for indigenous communities which may effect native title; apply the principle of non-extinguishment to the proposals; provide for compensation for any acquisition of property; and provide for a 10 year sunset period.

to amend the professional confidential relationship privilege provisions available to protect confidential communications between journalists and their sources in certain circumstances by: providing that courts observe public interest considerations; requiring courts to consider any likely harm to a journalist if certain evidence were given; repealing provisions for automatic loss of privilege in cases of misconduct; and removing the requirement for courts to give the greatest weight to any risk of prejudice to national security.

to support the draft Disability Standards for Education which will be formulated and tabled following passage of this bill and which will clarify and elaborate the obligations under the Act of education and training providers in relation to students with disabilities.

to reform the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), particularly in relation to: AAT procedures; removal of restrictions on the constitution of the AAT for particular hearings; increased powers for ordinary members; role of the Federal Court; and expanded qualification requirements for appointment as President. Also makes consequential and related amendments to 18 other Acts and contains application and transitional provisions.

to clarify the interaction between family law and bankruptcy, particularly in relation to the rights of the non-bankrupt spouse and the interests of creditors; and

Bankruptcy Act 1966

to: establish a supervised account regime for the collection by a bankruptcy trustee of a bankrupt’s assessed income contributions; and prevent the use of financial and maintenance agreements to defeat the claims of creditors. Also contains application provisions.